Spring edge mattress or cushion



l ;ORN EY l A. KRAKAUER SPRING EDGE MATTRESS on CUSHION Sept. 22, i942.

l N VE NO R am ffm/rayer Abr-ggz Filed June 27, 1938 Patented Sept. 22,1942 2,296,559 SPRING EDGE MATTRESS OR CUSHION Abraham Krakauer,Brooklyn, N. Y., Kay Manufacturing Corporation,

assignor to Brooklyn,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 27, 1938, Serial No.215,971

16 Claims.

This invention relates to mattresses and cushions, and particularly tothe means for maintaining the side and end edge portions thereof againstpermanent distortion under the stresses of use. Mattresses and cushions,even when supplied with inner spring units, tend to become permanentlydeformed at the peripheral edge portions thereof because the springs ofthe unit cannot be arranged near enough to the side and end surfaces ofthe mattress or cushion to maintain the padding and covering at saidsurfaces in their proper initial positions, so that the padding tends towork its way inwardlyr toward the springs and thereby to remove thesupporting effect thereof from said surfaces, and to permit the surfacesto collapse.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of comparativelyinexpensive extensible and compressible means for adequately reinforcingand stiening the end edge surfaces and side edge surfaces of themattress or cushion regardless of whether or not padding is thereemployed, said means being readily attachable to the spring structureand being durable and effective.

My invention further contemplates the use of suitable Wire mesh fabricfor the side and end Walls of a mattress or cushion, preferably inconjunction with an inner spring unit, to expand and contract with thecorresponding lateral expansion and contraction of the mattress orcushion and thereby to maintain said walls in their proper sizes andshapes even after considerable use.

My invention further contemplates the provision of walls on a springstructure, formed of wire mesh fabric, and serving as a barrier againstinward displacement of the padding arranged outside of said walls, ifsuch padding is used, or serving alone and without covering as the soleside and end wall means.

The variousobjects of the invention will be clear from the descriptionwhich follows and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of one form of a cushion ormattress to'which my invention has been applied and wherein no sidepadding is employed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of'a modified form of the samein which side padding is used.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of another modified form of the same whereinthe reinforcing metallic fabricl at the side and end surfaces is heldbetween two layers of padding.V

Fig. 4 is a similar View of a modified form of the same wherein themetallic reinforcing fabric is bent around the roll edge of the cushionor mattress, and is used as the upright wall without 'any padding.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modified form of the same whereinthe metallic fabric is held to the springs by suitable clips or rings atintervals.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View partly broken away of a cushion or mattresssimilar to that shown in Fig. 4 wherein the covering of the side and endedge surfaces is omitted. l In the practical embodiment of my inventionwhich I have shown by way of example,v the metallic fabric or Wire mesh-I0 is arranged in upright position at the side and end edges of thestructure and between the upper and lower surfaces thereof. Said fabricis Wovenin strip form of suitable thin springy wires Il, the individualwires being arranged in sinuous lform throughout the fabric with thecrest 2 and the troughs 3 of the sinuous curves arranged at the edges ofthe strip and forming a selvage. The width of the metallic strip I0 ispreferably substantially equal to the thickness of the spring structure,though it will be understood that the strip may be compressed orexpanded, if necessary, to the required` width, said strip being readilycompressible and expansible transversely. The metallic strip IIL' ,whencompressed, tends to bulge outwardly thereby maintaining the properflator convex edge on the spring structure instead of the concave edges orsurfaces ultimately produced in an ordinary mattress structure afterrepeated compression thereof. The strip IU may be used with or withoutpadding and with or without a covering therefor, as will hereinafterappear.

In the form of the mattress the usual coil springs I2 are securedtogether in rows by means ofthe helical springs I3, I4, I5 and 2|customarily used Afor'that purpose to produce an inner spring unit. Theunit is shown as covered by the padding I6 on its upper surface and thepadding I'I at its under surface, the

whole being enclosed in the casing IB at the corners of which is securedthe rolledging I9, 20. The metallic mesh or wire fabric I0 is arrangedbetween the upper and lower helical springs I3 and 2 I that is, betweenthe top and-bottom of the spring structure in substantially uprightposition and is held in place by the helicals.

Preferably, the upper and lower edges of the mesh are secured in placeat the same time that the coil springs are secured together by saidshown in Fig. l,

springs. 'I'he mesh being bendable, it may readily be bent at thecorners of the mattress to form the end edge surface 22 forming acontinuationV of and at substantially rightV anglesto the side` edgesurface`,`

As shown in Fig. 1, the padding at the sides, of

the mattress may be omitted andthe casing I8 l, K

arranged directly outside of andin face-to-face relation to the mesh. Ifdesired, the mesh may additionally be held to the casing by suitableVentilating eyelets 23 of the usual type passing through'the casing andthe mesh.

When the mattress is compressed, the mesh II) is also compressed, theindi-vidualvviresy thereof assuming a more flattened form and partlyclosing the interstices 24 therebetween. When the mattress is releasedfrom itscompressive stress, the coil springs I2-return the mattress toits original expanded and unstressed form and expand the mesh I 0 to itsinitial position. Said mesh I0, 22, suitably stiifens -andenforces thesideand end edges of the mattress and sufficientlyH resists inwardpressure thereon to prevent objectionablefconcavity of said end and sideedges, and also serves to maintain the mattress for a long time and evenunder long use in its proper form particularly at the side and end edgesthereof, thereby avoiding the objection to edge padding which tends tomove inwardly andato,-

permit said side and end edges to become concave. As shown in Fig. 2,the separate roll edging I9, may be omitted, and suitable padding as 25inserted between the casing IB and the meshl I0,

22. If desired, the padding 32 may be arranged around themarginal'helicals I 4 and I5 toy form a suitable roll edge, though itwill be understood that the roll edge may be entirely omitted, if desired. The eyelet 23 serves to secure the mesh, padding and casingtogether and permits the circulation of air through the interior of themattress. y

As illustrated in Fig.Y 3, instead of arranging the mesh at the innersurface of the padding, said mesh may be prearranged between twolayersas 21, 28 of the padding and stitched to the padding by suitablestitching then be finished in the usual manner, additional stitching as30, 3| being employed, if desired, to secure the padding and the mesh atits edges to the casing.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the greater part of the wire mesh comprisingthe side and end edge `surfaces of the mattress may be left uncovered,

unpadded and exposed, the padding being confined to the top and bottomsurfaces ofthe mattress and to the corners thereof, regardless' of themanner in which said mesh is secured to the inner spring unit of themattress. In said Fig. 4, however, I have shown a modified form of themeansfor attaching the mesh in place. In'this formV of the invention,the upper edge portion 33 of the mesh is bentaround a core 34 ofsuitableY material such as twistedpaper roll edging, the bent-overportion being secured to the bodylpor- 29. The mattress may tion of themesh by suitable means such as the clips or staples 35. The padding 36is arranged at the top and bottom of the spring structure. The casing 38covers the padding and the bent portion 33 of the wire mesh and extendspartly down the side and end edges as at 3l. Said casing 38 is suitablystitched in place to the wire mesh around its preferably doubled backperipheral edge, as at 39. The bottom surface of the mattress issimilarly completed thereby leaving the larger portion 40 of the Wiremesh exposed and uncovered. In this form of my invention, the interiorof the mattress is Visible through the upright mesh walls 40 and theentire interior is readilyventilated.through the interstices of saidmesh. The round wire of the mesh being free fromany rprotuberances orprojections cannot catch upon any sheeting or other material customarilyused Yfor covering the mattress when in use but provides a sanitary andwell ventilated mattress of economical construction, dispensing with thenecessity for Ventilating eyelets, but permitting the use of thecustomary straps Iiik for turning the mattress.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig.V 5,Vv the wire mesh I0 issecured in an vecronomial manner at itsupper and lower edges to theendcoils of the springs I2 andby the so-called wire hog rings 4I o'r othersuitable fasteningrmeansY arranged at spaced` intervals, thehelicalsbeing thereby dispensedvwith.

It will be understoodV from the above that` the wire mesh may beconveniently secured toN any of the usual formsof inner spring unitscustomf arily used for mattresses and cushionsrtoiorrn resilientprotecting and/reinforcingY edge andend surfaces thereof. It willfurth'erbe understood that any of the means customarilyemployedforholding the partsof a spring structuretogether such as rings, clips,helical springs oreven stitch,- ing may be used for securing the upperand lower, edges of the wire mesh vin` place, and finally it will beunderstood thatthe wire mesh may be covered or uncovered, or'paddedorunpaddemas may be found desirable for which the mattress isv designed.

While I have shown and v described certain specific embodimentsfof myinvention, Ido notv wish to be understoodasrlimitingwmyself thereto, butintend to claimY theinvention as broadly as may be permitted by thestateof the prior art and the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: y e

1. In a spring structure provided with a ,seriesV of coilsprings havingenlargedend coils,and,with metallic means for securing" the endcoils Aofthe springs in place in the structure, side and endwalls on thestructure comprisinga striprof woven wire mesh fabricY having ya'widthofsubstantially the height of the structure 'arideqnsistingler a pluralityof resilient interwoven wires'l ,each having' spaeedreunded bendetherein at the edges. @fluire strip said wires being substantially.straightb'el tween the adjacent bends thereof, and meansA se: curing therounded bends of thestrip to Vthe peripheral edges of the struQtUle,Said means passing through the strip.

2. In a cushion or mattress, aspringstructure comprising a series ofcoil springs, helical'spring's joining the end coils of the c oilsprings, side and end walls on the structure including a metallic stripof Ytransversely compressible and extensible fabric havingcomparativjely.y wide interstices therein and comprising comparativelythinY sinu-Y ous interwoven wires, means including said helical for'thespecial purposes springs securing marginal portions of the strip inupright position in the structure, padding on the upper and lower facesof the structure and covering material for said padding.V

3. In a cushion or mattress, a spring structure comprising a series ofcoil springs, helical springs joining the end coils of the coil springs,side and end walls on the structure including a metallic strip oftransversely compressible and extensible fabric having intersticestherein and consisting of interwoven sinuous wires, the marginalportions of the strip being secured in upright position in the structureto said helical springs, padding at the upper and lower faces of thestructure and covering material on said padding, the peripheral edges ofsaid covering extending past the corner edges of the structure andterminating adjacent the edge portions of said strip to exl pose thegreater part of the strip.

4. In an inner spring unit, upright coil springs, substantially uprightside and end walls on the unit arranged outwardly of said springs andcomprising transversely extensible and compressible metallic interwovenwire mesh, the wires of said mesh being comparatively thin andcomparatively widely spaced apart and having rounded bends forming aselvage at the edges of the strip, and means securing said mesh in placein the unit to compress the mesh on the compression of the springs andto extend the mesh on the release of the springs, said means passingthrough the mesh at said bends and being connected to edge portions ofthe unit adjacent the bends.

5. In a mattress, an inner spring unit, padding at the top of the unit,similar padding at the bottom of the unit, a covering over each of thepaddings, and exposed side and end surfaces on the mattress comprisingwire mesh secured to the unit and to the coverings and compressible andexpansible with the springs of the unit, the top padding coveringterminating at the side and end surfaces above the middle of saidsurfaces and the bottom padding covering terminating below the middle ofsaid surfaces.

6. In an inner spring unit insertable as a whole into a cushion casing,upright coil springs, mettalic means for securing said springs in placein the unit, protective compressible and extensible walls at the sidesand ends of the unit comprising substantially upright metallic fabric ofinterwoven sinuous wires, and means engaging the upper and lower edgesof the fabric at spaced intervals for securing said metallic fabric toadjacent parts of the unit.

7. In an inner spring unit, upright coil springs, compressible andextensible side and end walls comprising substantially upright metallicfabric of interwoven sinuous wires, and helical springs passing throughthe edge portions of the fabric and around end coils of the uprightsprings.

8. In a spring structure forming the inner spring unit of a cushion ormattress, a marginal wall comprising a strip of wire mesh fabricconsisting solely of interwoven resilient wires of sinuous formextending between the edges of the strip and between the upper and lowercorner edges of the structure, and fastening means passing through theedges of the trip and through adjacent portions of the structureA toconstrain the strip to be reduced in width on the compression of thestructure and to expand in width on the release of the structure fromcompressive stress, said strip protecting the unit from the entrancethereinto through said wall of substantial quantities of extraneousmatter and maintaining the marginal wail of the unit in' its initialshape and size and against inward displacement.u

9. A mattress comprising an inner springl unit including a series ofcoil springs having enlarged end coils, top and bottom padding on theunit, a cover on the padding, a continuous strip of metallic interwovenwire mesh fabric of a height substantially that of the unit and formingat least a part of the side walls and end walls of the mattress, andmeans passing through and securing the upper and lower longitudinal edgeportions of the strip to adjacent parts of the mattress.

10. A mattress comprising an inner spring unit including coil springshaving enlarged end coils, foraminous edge and end walls in saidmattress substantially enclosing the edges and ends of said unit'andcomprising a continuous strip of.' metallic mesh consisting solely of aplurality of thin wires of the same diameter and material`,

yeach of said wires extending in sinuous form.`

throughout the width of the strip at an angle of.' approximately 45,said wires crossing to form... substantially square interstices betweenadjaQent., wires of such dimensions as toV permit relative.; movement ofthe wires through substantial dis-A tances suflicient to take up normalcompression. of the spring unit under the stresses of use, and'. meanspassing through the upper and lower edges... of the strip and adjacentparts of the mattress; for securing the strip in upright position inthe, mattress.

11. In a padded spring structure, a series of.'

A coil springs arranged in rows and each having;v

end coils of greater diameter than the intermecli. ate coils thereof,padding means covering said*A end coils and extending around the sidewalls. and end walls of the structure and covering at. least theperipheral edge portions of said sidev walls and end walls and includingpadding material and covering material, a strip of metallicwire fabricarranged at the end walls and side l walls of the structure inside ofsaid covering material and spaced outwardly from the intermediate coilsofthe marginal springs 'a greater distance than the spacing thereof fromthe end coils of said springs, and means passing through the wire fabricand through the covering material securing said material to said fabricand maintaining said material and fabric in place in the structure.

12. In a padded spring structure, a series of coil springs each havingend coils of greater diameter than the intermediate coils thereof, saidsprings being arranged in rows, padding means covering said end coilsand substantially enclosing the springs and including padding materialand covering material, and means arranged at the side and end walls ofthe structure and extending between the end coils and spaced outwardlyfrom the intermediate coils of marginal springs of the structure agreater distance than the spacing thereof from said end coils forpreventing permanent collapse and distortion of the end walls and sidewalls of the structure, said means comprising a foraminous strip ofmetallic wire mesh, saidl marginal springs normally stretching said meshlaterally, and means passing through the edge portions of the mesh andconnected to adjacent portions of the spring structure and securing themesh in substantially upright position in the structure.

13. In a cushion or mattress structure, an inner member comprising aspring unit, padding on each horizontal face of the member, a coveringmember for the padding, side and end walls on the structure4 includingla vsubstantially vertical..

strip of metallic Wireufrabridconsisting ofl inter Woven sinuous WiresAspaced tovprovide interstices therebetween,v said coveringl membercovering at least the edge portionsr of thefabric, and horizontallyarranged fastening meansvrpassing through the'Y edge` portions of thefabric .and through at least onenof said members and securingftbe fabricto adjacent portions 4of the mem.`V

ber.

14. In a cushion or mattress structure, an inner member comprising aplurality ,of coil `springs each having end coils of greater ,diameterthan,

the intermediate coils thereof, side and endwalls on the structureincluding a strip Yof metallic:y

Wire mesh, a covering member on the inner member covering the end coils,said covering member Y ture each including a continuous strip ofwovenWire. mesh, coextensive inlength and width vWith that of said Wallsandhav-ing lateralfbends therein at the junctures of -said sideWalls-With the endwalls, Aand means. vengaging the Y- upperA and-1oweredgesof thestrip and passingtherethrough and throughadjacent apartsofthe structuretoV secure said edges, in placeA in thelstructure;

16. In a polygonal-spring lstructure forming-the inner spring Yunit ofacushion .or mattresswa series of. upright coil springs Vand-uprightmarginal Walls resisting.deformation-of the -side and Y endedgesurfaces-of said vunit' and including a continuous. transverselyextensible. and comv-pressible strip of metallic'fabric secured at itsedges tovthe end coils OLthemarginal springs,Y saidstrip having alateralbendgtherein at each of the corners of .the structure, saidstrip-comV prising sinuous wireshaving edge bends forming eachY of the*`Wires passinga, selvage on the strip, completelyacross the strip at anangle of ap proximately 45, all of said Wires being` of the samediameterland material.

ABRAHAM -KRAKAUER.-

